When I was in grade school, I saw a film called Paddle to the
Sea. Unlike the standard boring educational film, Paddle to the Sea was
screened for our class as a
"treat." The lights were dimmed, and the chugga-chugga of the 35
mm reel to reel projector transported me to Lake Nipigon, Canada, where a young boy
carves a wooden model of a Native Canadian in a canoe. On the bottom of the
canoe he roughly etches the words "Please put me back in the water. I am
Paddle-to-the-Sea". He then parks the figure in the snow and the spring
melt water carries it away. The film highlights Paddle's treacherous journey through the Great Lakes to
the Atlantic Ocean.
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| Amarillo - No water here! |
As a youngster from Amarillo, the only body of
water I had seen was the city pool. I had very little exposure to large bodies of water. While
I loved the Paddle story, I had no desire to face the kind of danger required
to paddle to the sea. Regardless, the film made an impression and every
time I go out on the water I recall Paddle's journey. (And I also take a life
jacket!)
An injury took me off my bike this summer. For a new way to enjoy the outdoors, I took up kayaking. In a borrowed, fishing kayak, the dogs and I have ventured onto Oregon's rivers with a healthy respect for water's power instilled in me by Paddle to the
Sea.
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| Tualitin River |
On the Willamette between Corvalis and Salem, I inhaled the aroma of the mint
fields while a daytime moon poked her forehead from beneath a cloudless, blue
tarp. The wind made the downstream paddle take longer than we expected giving
us more time to observe the many blue herons fishing along the banks. We
stopped along a little sandy beach to let the dogs run a bit. They ran through
the grasses sniffing and peeing on everything. After a snack, we were back in
the boat and paddling the tiny whitecaps created by the wind.
The Tualitin is shallow and lazy, full of sticks and greenery. It's a gentle
water road through the city filled with swimmers and bird life. There were no
beaches to land on (at least the part where we were), just a boat ramp and slow
water. The Tualitin offers the chance to slow down and relax.
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| Columbia River |
A trip around Price Island in the Columbia went from the
choppy, dark water of a wide river to the flat water of the Echloman Slough
where the shores became peaceful and green. The cloudy sky turned blue as
the sun rose. In the river, the giant ships contribute to the waves
and while I was not worried about falling out of the boat, I didn't enjoy the
stress of this stretch. Even the dogs were nervous about the changing wakes and
tides as they gravitated toward the center of the kayak and hunkered down for
the roller coaster ride. Once we entered the slough they were back
on the bow sunning themselves and watching for water critters. Overhead, the
adolescent raptors squawked as our guide pointed out the old growth trees, the
bird life, and the large eagle nests.
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| On the Siletz |
The Siletz was too shallow for the kayaks, so we made due with inflatables.
Staying on them was a challenge and Sonic and I fell into the mini rapid.
The water wasn't too deep for me, but Sonic could not find the ground. He
quickly abandoned me for the shore. So much for canine loyalty! He was
rescued against his will by our friend who managed to stay on her raft. The
water was warm, clear, and pleasantly calm in the swimming holes while the
shores were lined with slick rocks. The next day we traveled to Ollala
Lake for paddling since the Siletz didn't provide a haven for paddling.
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| Estacada Lake |
Lake Estacada provided a paddler's peace of heaven between
two dams on the Clackamas River. The water was just the right temperature to
take the edge off that 100 degree day. The water mirrored black in the distance
and green just under the boat. The Osprey soared on thermal drafts, and the
dogs barked at the ducks. They wanted to chase without actually getting wet.
One can easily spend an afternoon here dodging the fishing rafts, slicing
through flat water from dam to dam. If you go later in the day the tall trees
along the banks provide plenty of shade.
Each time I put in the kayak, I can't help but recall that little wooden canoe.
While I won’t be paddling to the ocean, Paddle’s memory links me to a simpler
time before the burdens of the world became apparent. I forget my troubles for
a while and enjoy each river's wildlife, scenery, and natural pace. I am lucky
to live in such a beautiful part of the world. I am thankful today for
nature’s gifts of sunrises, sunsets, rivers, mint fields, and those delightful
daytime moons.
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| Echloman Slough |
I am thankful today for the people in my formation who provide the lift that allows me to fly even when I get weary. I am thankful
for opportunities to take the lead and let someone else rest, and just as
grateful when I can drop back into the V and enjoy the journey. 
